Copper Cow Coffee, Original Vietnamese Pour Over Coffee Kit 5 Count, 7.4 Ounce

I heard about this product on the podcast The Pitch and two of the folks on there are coffee snobs (that's not a negative BTW) and they raved about this, so I figured I'd dive in. The coffee was easy to make and the instructions are very simple. This seems more like an espresso product than a drip brew, as it recommends 8 oz for "American" style. I put 8 oz in and it was strong. I like strong coffee and the sweetened condensed milk made it extra yummy. Typical coffee drinker, it was gone pretty quick. The flavor was smooth and rich and it smelled really great. I had some friends try it, sipped mine (small sips only - geez), and they loved it and are still talking about it 2 days ;later. I will say it is pricey. The version with the condensed milk in 3.00 a cup; compared to a Venti from Starbucks (~$2.87) it's more for less but it tastes better than Starbucks. Don't get me wrong, I like SB too. The big question is, would I buy this again? I would but as a treat for me and not for daily use due to cost. Also, my next cup I'm going to go rogue and probably add 12oz of water. Hey, I'm a guy who likes to maximize my value and break rules :)

I do not own a coffee pot and do not make coffee at home. I always just go to McDonald’s every day or have a red Bull. However this is a GREAT alternative for the weekends when I don’t feel like running out. Or like today when we just got a bunch of snow and I can’t get out easily. I just love that it’s a long lasting option because I’m a person that like “a little coffee with my cream and sugar” and since I never make coffee at home, I can’t keep creamer for k-cups if I wanted to buy them. They are also fantastic for travel too. I had no problems hanging it on my cup and don’t think it would ever fall in but I held it onto the sides anyway based on other reviews. Obviously coffee flavor completely differs from person to person so if the flavor isn’t for you it is what it is, but for me it was perfect. I actually don’t LIKE the taste of coffee which is why I mask it so much with cream and sugar and since I can decide the ratio, I can adjust it to my preference. I don’t know that I would ever buy them for me to have every day of the week, but I would absolutely always keep a box in my cabinet so I had them as an option.

First, the taste of the coffee is very good. I bought this despite the somewhat negative reviews about the milk packets leaking. I really wanted to try this and gave it the benefit of the doubt with fingers crossed for no leaking. IT LEAKED! The entire product package and shipping box was intact with no signs of damage, yet when I removed it from the amazon box I immediately saw dry, gooey condensed milk leaked all over the contents. One milk packet was rock hard. What a disappointment. I really don’t understand the company’s issue with leaking. To me, it seems the package left the seller this way. There is no other explanation. Disappointed, as it seems the seller really couldn’t care less and this item is not cheap ($15 for 5 servings of coffee!!!).

I enjoy good quality coffee and understand well that preparation is integral to the final product. The Copper Cow system for brewing a Vietnamese coffee intrigued me and decided to give it a try. In reading the more negative reviews I was more than curious as to why. BTW - I have at home a couple of French press makers, a phin pot, two tradition stovetop Italian espresso pots, and Aero-press, three Nespresso machines between home and office, and a more traditional auto drip for the morning pot. I like coffee. I have to say, that my first experience with Copper Cow was excellent. So why the “bad” reviews? Well, I would guess that some folks do not appreciate the importance of allowing the grounds to “bloom” fully for around a minute. My first cup was rich and entirely what I would expect from a traditional phin. If folks found their cup too watery, you probably put in too much water. Right? And for those who mentioned the sweetened condensed milk being too sweet …. well that is just the nature of the product and exactly what the traditional Vietnamese brew is all about. So other than being a little pricy, the Copper Cow is on point, and I have nothing but positive comments and I will buy again.

Revised Review: I loved the classic flavor so much I repurchased the variety pack. The Lavender Lattee and Classic were amazing but the Churro flavor would not drain. No matter my pour method or how much I agitated the grounds it wouldn’t drain. I was left with a bag of water and coffee grounds and have wasted three packets, which is quite a lot of money in the trash. I reached out to Copper Cow hoping they could just maybe resend me the Churro flavor as it has a delightful smell and I was hoping it was just a defective batch but was informed Amazon must handle the grievance and they don’t supply customer support for Amazon purchases. Amazon came through clutch and took great care of me but I doubt I’ll be repurchasing. Just to reiterate the other two varieties I tried poured and tasted amazing so I am giving a solid 3 stars.

I really enjoyed this product. I took it with me on a week-long camping trip around Iceland. It was perfect. I could get up in the morning and have that lovely strong, but creamy and sweet cup of Vietnamese coffee. I have a traditional Vietnamese coffee maker at home and the process is pretty similar. I would recommend using a bit less water than what the package recommends for that nice strong flavor. This company got the balance of robusta and arabica just right. The robusta gives this coffee the signature Vietnamese-style flavor, while the arabica brings the smoother characteristics of the espresso. Many people comment on the cost. I think the cost is quite reasonable. I live in LA and a good espresso drink will cost $3+ easy, (a high-quality pour > $5). And traveling in Iceland, $3 for campside coffee is a bargain! Is this going to be my everyday coffee, no, but will I reach for this for every time I'm traveling, camping or I want to avoid the yuky office coffee...absolutely!

I learned about Copper Cow Coffee on Shark Tank. Admittedly, I was completely won over by the presentation, especially with the compliments of the Sharks, especially Daymond's critique having recently stood in line in Vietnam for a real authentic Vietnamese coffee. Taste is subjective. That being said, I purchase beans that are freshly roasted to order, using a burr grinder immediately before brewing in a French press. I like my coffee deeply flavored and rich. I prefer dark roast but also enjoy a good city or even an Italian roast. I am not a fan of French roast, however. I mention my coffee and roast preferences as this coffee if very weak, even brewed at 4 ounce levels, and not fresh at all. I considered that if the coffee was freshly roasted, ground and immediately individually packaged that the individual packaging would retain some freshness even if not as much as freshly ground. I feel that either the quality and roast of the coffee is poor or the method of roasting, grinding and packaging is lacking or both. While the coffee doesn't taste stale, it also doesn't have flavor. It tastes similar too what the middle of an open package of pre-ground grocery store coffee would taste. That flavor is not worth $5+ a cup. I pay far less than that for roasted to order fresh beans. Instructions. Those horribly invisible instructions! On the outside of the package it says: Tear, Gently Hang, Pour, Squeeze - complete with pictures of tearing off the top off the coffee pouch, spreading open the hanging parts, pouring with a gooseneck kettle and squeezing the package of sweetened condensed milk into a large mug off dark, delicious looking coffee (looks like a good 10 ounces too, so 2 - 3 packets of Copper Cow Coffee!). Inside of the flap it says: Brew it your way directions, along with a picture of a coffee cup, with illustrations showing American Style (fill 6-8 times) 8oz, Vietnamese Style (fill 2-3 times) 4oz. On the back of the individual packets it has 4 illustrated steps 1) Tear open filter 2) Gently hang 3) Pour hot water 4) Add creamer to taste. Cumulatively the instructions make it seem that you can pop open a packet, boil some water, fill up the little open hanging packet 2-8 times, add the creamer and drink. Even if this coffee would taste good to you, this will not work. Pour over coffee is a method. (I highly recommend consulting a youtube video or barista as this method is technique driven) A gooseneck kettle is advised/preferred for an easier controlled pour. Drizzle just enough water, just off the boil, over your open hanging packet to moisten the grinds. Allow it to sit for 30-45 seconds. Slowly drizzle just off the boil water over the open hanging packet, starting and stopping to create a very slow and consistent drip. This is cumbersome as the packet is small, square and narrow instead of a nicely spread out cone, but it can be done. It should take 3 - 5 minutes+ to correctly brew your 4-8 ounces of coffee. I know, I know.. no where does it explain that this is not a quick and easy, almost instant coffee. It does say that this is a classic pour over coffee and shows the gooseneck kettle, both instruct, without instructions, that this coffee is to be brewed using the classic pour over method. The issue being that many, if not most, American coffee drinkers don't know what the classic pour over method is even if they have heard of it, AND the instructions of filling up the packet 2-8 times is the best way of extracting the least possible amount of flavor out of pre-ground coffee that needs help pulling out any flavor to begin with. My personal recommendation is to pass on this. If you are interested in pour over coffee, the tools do not need to be pricey. It really is all in the method. The most costly tools are a good burr grinder (which doesn't have to be a high end burr grinder), good coffee beans (you can buy an entire pound of really good, roasted to order beans for $16 not on sale). Filter your water. Use a faucet or counter filter that results in water that you enjoy drinking. If you want to use the pour over method, do invest in a gooseneck kettle, anything else is going to be frustrating. If the pour over method sounds too time consuming, too much, too whatever for you consider other methods. I enjoy the ease and boldness of the French Press, however a lot of people like the Clever Dripper, an Aeropress, a Moko Pot (use Google or try r/coffee on reddit to chat with people about what you are looking for in ease of use, taste and cost). If you are a traveler, going on vacation or otherwise want to be able to have decent coffee away from home there are more delicious alternatives that are more cost effective than Copper Cow. If you are trying Copper Cow because it sounds interesting, sure, give it a go... maybe also consider looking into alternative brew methods and types/brands of coffee to have some fun exploring your taste and brew preferences. If you are into coffee or just curious, it could be a lot of fun to treat yourself (a variety all at once, something different every week, every month, every few months... whatever fits your life, style, finances, you deserve it!). If you like it, you like it. You do you. Happy Brewing!

I'm lucky to live in a neighborhood with three good independent coffee houses in walking distance (one even imports and roasts its own beans), plus two (2) Peets and a Starbucks. So I've scarcely made coffee at home in years, and haven't bought out-of-town pre-ground coffee within memory. Until I tried these Copper Cow kits (also sold, at similar per-portion price, by Backpacker's Pantry in special sturdy 2-serving outer packages very good for travel: Backpacker's Pantry Copper Cow Vietnamese Coffee One Color, One Size ). First, there's that clever little (airtight-packaged) filter pack with pull-out paper hooks that hold it at the top of a mug. "Instant" filtered coffee wherever there's hot water -- no filter holder needed, no machines. (Be careful to open the filter pouch properly -- the "tear" perforations are invisible, and below a row of visible holes that are part of the paper you tear off.) Then, each filter pack comes along with a pouch of sweetened condensed milk to add to taste. But what really made it for me was the coffee quality. This is way beyond anything I've experienced with pre-ground coffee before. More like the flavor I associate with local independent coffee shops. The quality of the product hits you with the fresh aroma on opening the sealed outer packet. Finally: shelf-stable "instant" coffee that tastes like the Real Enchilada.